OK, so I have read the reviews that others have given so far, and many of them are biased one way or another. This was a great episode. The 50's gag leading up to the 'Bird is the Word' gag was agitating enough to be funny throughout the entire episode. It made you roll your eyes at the end of episode but still chuckle a bit. The "Office Space" gag was fantastic!! Everyone has referenced Office Space one way or another since its released but it hasn't been done in a way that made people reminisce like Seth MacFarlane was able to. He captured the Fax Machine destruction scene perfectly. He used the perfect two characters with the best chemistry on the show to perform on of the funniest moments in comedy film in the last 20 years. I give the writes a thumbs up on the idiosyncratic way they portrayed Dane Cook's comedy bit for the MTV awards show. I for one do not find that guy near as funny as most people do. I have only two negative things to say about the show. The scene in which 'the guy who can't get enough needs a distraction' really wasn't funny. The scene that probably went unnoticed, I was the only one who even heard it in my household, where they referenced Heath Ledger's death was a bit cold, however that is how Family Guy continues to dominate shock television and maintain viewers. Family Guy hasn't lost its momentum. The show has simply adapted to today's pop culture which doesn't have the shock drama of when the show first came out. People who enjoy the show will be using the 'Bird is the Word' gag to annoy their friends for months to come, which proves that the show is still hot and going strong. I am not a proprietor for defending shows on television, however when someone isn't a real fan and decides to slander something he or she knows nothing about, I will take offense. Mr. Seth MacFarlane, you are doing a terrific job with coming up with new material for the animated world which has been dominated by "The Simpsons" for 20 years. I have been a "The Simpsons" fan since its inception, it WAS the ground breaking show in animation domination. I have watched a few new episodes of "The Simpsons" over the past two years and have noticed they have changed their approach to the show to simulate some of the jokes and layouts that Family Guy uses to keep their ratings up. If you watch an episode from 15 years ago and compare it to one from the past season, there is a subtle difference from then to now. To sum the actual show, I give this episode an 8 out of 10. If you have a rebuttal to my review or rantings, please email me at hoit214@yahoo.com and explain yourself.
- Joe